Photogbaphic-pbint washer



G. W. ROMER.

PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT WASHER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24, 1918.

1,312,050. Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH c c,

furnish UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHOTOGRAPHIG-PRINT WASHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 5, 1919.

Application filed June 24, 1918. Serial No. 241,585.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GLEASON a citizen of the United States, Lake Helen,

W. RoMnR, residing at in the county of Volusia and State of Florida, have invented certain new in Photographicof which the following is a l5 vide a simple, durable, economical and thoroughly efficient apparatus for the purpose stated, which will occupy but little space and may be placed at any convenient or desirable location within the room in which it is to be employed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a series or plurality of washing receptacles or pans so connected together and installed that the water will be given a 15 whirling motion in each receptacle as the overflow of one receptacle is conducted to another, thereby eliminating the usual custom of stirring the prints by hand.

Another object of this invention is to an improved washing apparatus consisting of two or more pans (dependent upon the Volume of work to be preformed), arranged one above the other so that the overflow from one receptacle is utilized to 5 operate the receptacle below and impart a whirling or stirring motion to the water as it is discharged, the top receptacle being supplied by a water discharge arranged tangentially with respect to said receptacle and 0 controlled by a valve, and the overflow from the last or lowermost pan being discharged into a sink or sewerage connection, or a common round pan may rest within the sink to catch the overflow from the last pan and 5 thus serve as a first washing unit.

The foregoing and such other objects as may appear from the ensuing description are attained by the construction, combination, location and arrangement of the parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accom anying drawings, and particularly pointe out in the claims appended hereto, it being understood that slight changes in the form, proportions and minor 5 details of the construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the inventlon.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification it will be seen that Figure 1, is a perspective view showing the device embodying my invention.

Fig. 2, is a plan of one of the washing receptacles or pans employed, and

Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional View of the receptacle shown in Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to designate corresponding parts thoughout the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out my invention the accompanying drawings of which illustrate the preferred construction, the numerals 1, 2 and 3 indicate a series or plurality of print washing pans or receptacles supported in any suitable or convenient manner one above another, three of said receptacles being shown in Fig. 1, and each receptacle or pan consists of an outer rounded or circular member 4:, the peripheral portion of which is inclined outwardly and upwardly from its base or bottom to the top thereof, and within the member 4 is soldered or fixedly secured in any suitable,or desirable manner to the inner surface of the bottom thereof an annular member 5, the peripheral portion of which is inclined outwardly and upwardly from bottom to top and is provided with a series of staggered overflow openings 6 therethrough, near its top portion, said member 5 being so secured and arranged within the outer member 4, as to form an annular space 10 between the walls of the said members for the purpose hereinafter described.

The numeral 7 designates any suitable or conveniently located water supply pipe provided with a discharge nozzle 8, and controlling valve 9, said discharge nozzle being located or arranged to discharge the water within the inner side of the member 5 at an angle or tangentially with respect to the periphery so as to impart to the water when discharged within the receptacle a stirring and whirling motion therein, and to the bottom of each of the members 4 is fixedly secured in communication with the annular space 10, a discharge nozzle or outlet 11, positioned tangentially with respect to both the receptacle to which it is secured and the receptacle beneath it so that when the water overflows through the overflow openings in the member 5 into the annular space 10, between the walls of the members, it will be discharged through the nozzle or outlet 11 into the member 5 below said outlet at an angle or tangentially to the peripheral portion of said member and thus impart a whirling or stirring motion to the water as it is being discharged therein, the lowermost discharge nozzle 11 being arranged to discharge the water from the annular space of the lowermost receptacle in a similar manner within an ordinary pan or vessel 12, which may be located within the usual sink or basin 13 located in the room.

In the installation of my improved washing device, a complete washer is composed of two or more washing pans or receptacles (dependent upon the volume of work to be performed) said pans. or receptacles being supported in any suitable or convenient manner one above the other so that the overflow from one is so discharged as to operate the one below. The top pan is supplied by a properly arranged spout or nozzle provided with a controlling valve, and the overflow from the last or lowermost pan or receptacle is discharged into a sink or sewerage connection, or a common round pan can be set within the sink to catch this overflow, and be used as a first washing unit.

The process of the manipulation of the prints in connection with my improved washer may be briefly described, as follows 7 As the prints are taken from the fixing solution, they are rinsed for a moment and placed into the lower pan, then the water supply valve at the top is opened. When the next batch of prints is ready for washing, these first prints are placed into the next washing pan above and the new batch is rinsed and placed in the lower pan. This process is repeated over and over as long as the work is being performed, the batches of prints being raised from a lower pan to a pan above, thereby they are immersed and in contact with fresher water at each change and on being removed from the top washer pan, are ready for drying.

It will be understood that too many prints should not be placed in a pan at one time, since this would tend toprevent the water being kept in the proper whirling or stirring motion, and the smaller the batches the better and more complete is the washing and proper cleaning of the prints.

It will be perceived that this device economizes in the use of the water employed, since one supply nozzle supplies the entire series of washing receptacles, and at the same time dispenses with the expense for the plumbing connections and other attachments employed in washing prints, thereby enabling it to be sold at a more reasonable sum than a photographer would be able to produce his own washing outfit.

I desire it to be understood that the construction and arrangement of print washer is especially intended for washing post cards, cabinet size photographs and other small prints, and is not intended for prints larger than 5x7 inches.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device for washing photographic prints comprising a receptacle having an annular outer wall and an annular inner wall, the inner wall having a series of staggered discharge openings therethrough, and a discharge nozzle connected to its bottom portion between said inner and outer walls and arranged tangentially with respect to the periphery of said receptacle.

2. A device for washing photographic prints comprising a receptacle consisting of an outer member and an inner member each member being formed with an annular wall, the inner member being fixedly secured to the bottom of the outer member so as to form an annular space between the walls of said members and being provided with a series of staggered discharge openings near its top portion, and a discharge nozzle fixedly secured to the bottom of the outer member between the said walls and located tangentially with respect to the peripheral portion of the receptacle.

3. A device for washing photographic prints comprising a receptacle provided with an outer and antinner wall, each wall being inclined outwardly and upwardly from its bottom to the top, said walls being so arranged as to form an annular space therebetween, and a discharge nozzle fixedly secured to the bottom of the receptacle between the said walls, said discharge nozzle being arranged tangentially with respect to the peripheral portion of the receptacle whereby it is adapted to be placed in specified relation to other like receptacles, substantially as described for the purposes set forth.

GLEASON W. HOMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 03" 

